India on Thursday sought further access to LeT operative David Headley and his accomplice Tahawwur Rana, currently in US jails, with external affairs minister S.M. Krishna asking Washington to help bring to justice the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
“India’s interest in further access to Headley and Rana, in accordance with our legal procedures, for the investigations into the Mumbai terror attack of November 2008, was raised,” Mr Krishna told reporters at a joint news conference with secretary of state Hillary Clinton after the strategic dialogue which was co-chaired by them.
In response to a question on Pakistani-American Headley (51) and Pakistani-Canadian Rana (50), Ms Clinton said the two countries are sharing information related to terrorism and other related issues.
“With respect to information-sharing it is our policy and practice to share information, and we do that. I’m not going to go into details because we think our co-operation on intelligence-sharing, on homeland security issues, on counter-terrorism has gotten to a new level,” she said.
“It is very important to both of our countries. But it’s also important that, you know, we support the work that is done by our professionals and our experts in protecting both of our countries, and I think we are satisfied that that is occurring,” Ms Clinton said.
Later at a separate news conference, Mr Krishna said terrorism has been one of the main subjects of his discussions with India.
“She understands India’s concerns and how India has become a victim over a period of time of terrorist attacks coming across from Pakistan,” Mr Krishna said, adding that the United States fully understands India’s position.
Headley has pleaded guilty to 12 terrorism charges, including his involvement in the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai that claimed 166 lives.